[Measurement of arterial tension at the eye with the Stepanik arteriotonograph (author's transl)].

Comparative measurements of the ophthalmic artery pressure (using the Stepanik-ArteriotonographTM) and the brachial arterial pressure (sphygmomanometry according to Riva-Rocci) in 110 eyes are presented. There was a significant correlation (p less than 0,01) between both parameters. The mean systolic ophthalmic artery pressure was 114,5 mmHg, the diastolic pressure was 81,2 mmHg. The ipsilateral mean systolic brachial arterial pressure was 134,5 mmHg, the mean diastolic pressure 88,2 mmHg. In 7 eyes the ophthalmic pressure was exceeding the systolic brachial pressure, in 26 eyes the diastolic brachial pressure. 78% of the differences of paired measurements were within 0 and 10 mmHg (on the average 4,97 mmHg in the systolic readings and 4,30 mmHg in the diastolic readings). After repeated measurements with the arteriotonograph a significant increase of the ophthalmic arterial pressure was noted. The explanation of this phenomenon might be a ocular-vascular reflex produced by the compression of the globe into the orbit. The methodological limits of the arteriotonograph and the clinical significances of the present results are discussed.